Broder and Valjas one win short of main draw

ROME – (June 12, 2012) Jamie Broder of Victoria and Kristina Valjas of Toronto were just one win short of reaching the main draw in Tuesday’s qualifying at the sixth stop on the FIVB World Tour in beach volleyball.

This event is the last before the Canadian teams will be selected for the Continental Cup Olympic qualifier later this month in Mexico.

Broder and Valjas won in a walkover over Satoko Urata and Takemi Nishibori of Japan who withdrew due to injury. Then in their second match they lost to Shauna Mullin and Zara Dampney of Britain 21-17, 21-16.

It was the second time this season, Broder and Valjas came within a win of the main draw.

Canada’s two other entries in qualifying lost their opening matches. Marie-André Lessard of Ville LaSalle, Que., and Annie Martin of Sherbrooke, Que., fell to Geeske Banck and Kira Walkenhorst of Germany 21-11, 30-28 while Julie Rodrigue of Quebec City and Kacie MacTavish of Sharon, Ont., lost to Natalia Dubovcova and Dominika Nestarcova of Slovenia 21-15, 21-6.

Heather Bansley and Liz Maloney of Toronto have a bye to the main draw which starts Wednesday.

Men’s qualifying also starts Wednesday. The Canadian entries are Josh Binstock of Toronto and Martin Reader of Comox, B.C., as well as Ben Saxton of Calgary and Christian Redmann of Toronto.